4-H offers a great opportunity for homeschooling families to host a Japanese exchangee for a month this summer. Many homeschooling families in northwestern Ohio have already participated in this program.

I'm a volunteer for Ohio 4-H, Henry County, and we welcome 100 Japanese kids each summer along with their adult chaperones. Many other U.S. states participate in this exchange. Ohio has been involved in this program since 1980.

They kids stay with host families from July 23 through August 18 and the children are from 12 to 16 years old although most of them are 12 and 13 years old.

They are members of Labo Party, an English language club in Japan which teaches English through song, games, and plays. One of the goals of the program is to place the children with a nurturing host family and to provide host families with an interesting cultural experience.

It's very much a family oriented exchange program. Families are not asked to alter their routines, but it's nice to do some local sightseeing. The program emphasizes treating the child as a member of the family.

Volunteers are required to make a home visit, interviewing the family and seeing where the child will sleep. They may share a bedroom with a host sibling but must have their own bed.

A host family orientation, usually scheduled in June, is required.

If interested reply to this message, email hall_leann@hotmail.com or call 419-966-0361. If you live in another state, contact your local extension office to see if the program is offered there.